Video gaming device and method of wagering on a virtual round of golf

ABSTRACT

A video gaming device and method for wagering on a virtual round of golf or golf game comprising a video touch screen or display and a selector control panel including a plurality of selector control keys to selectively generate a plurality of golf stroke selections and control signals including golf stroke selection signals and wagering selection signals, and a microprocessor including game data comprising a plurality of wager selections and a plurality of club selections corresponding to the golf stroke selection signals and wagering selection signals and a predetermined game situation profile; a data processing section including logic to receive the golf stroke selection signal and control signals from the plurality of selector control keys to generate display signals in response to the club selection and control signals to be displayed on the video screen or display in response to operator input from the plurality of selector control keys and to generate a golf game play image on the video screen or display as the golf stroke executed against the predetermined golf game situation profile and display the wagering results.

CROSS REFERENCE

This is a continuation-in-part application of co-pending application 60/678,984 filed May 9, 2005 that is a continuation-in-part application of co-pending provisional application Ser. No. 10/675,500 filed Sep. 30, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

A video gaming device and method for wagering on a virtual golf game.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Slot machines, video poker machines and similar gaming device have been at the core of the gaming industry. Players enjoy such machines because of the prospect of winning money and the entertainment from playing the game(s) associated with particular machines. Consequently, gaming establishments seek new and more entertaining and exciting machines because such machines attract more frequent play and increased profitability. Traditional gaming machines with mechanical slot reels or video depictions of such reels to display games and outcomes to players and simulated casino games such as cards, dice, bingo and the like to attract players have become staid to many players. Thus, innovative displays and game play features available to players provide more interesting and exciting alternatives to traditional games. Accordingly, in the competitive gaming machine industry, there is a constant desire with gaming machine manufacturers to produce new types of games, or enhancements to existing games, to attract frequent play by increasing the entertainment value and excitement associated with the game.

In particular, there is a need for engaging and entertaining games that create a competitive interactive play between the player and gaming machine to hold the player's interest. The present invention is such a video gaming device and method for wagering.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,163 teaches a method and apparatus for operating a gaming device having a flat rate play session costing a flat rate price spanning multiple plays on the gaming device over a pre-established duration. The gaming device identifies price parameters and determines the flat rate price of playing the gaming device.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,885 describes a method for the player to play a wagering sports game such as football. The player makes a wager and defensive and offensive formations are selected and displayed. The play is run and based upon the outcome obtained the player either wins or loses their wager. The method includes providing the player with an opportunity to double their wager.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,319,123 snows a method of playing a game including a plurality of events depicted in a series of sequential, non-identical images identified as a first image, a second image and so forth. A first image selected from the plurality of first images is displayed in a frame, such as a frame on a video monitor. Likewise, a selected one of the second images from the plurality of second images is displayed in a second frame. If the images displayed in the frames sequentially depict the first and second images of the event, then a winning condition is achieved. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,375,568 relates to an interactive gaming process and system comprising a plurality of gaming machines to be played by plurality of players. The system can be configured such that the gaming machines are either located in a casino or at internet locations. Each gaming machine comprises a wagering game and a theme game, respectively. The wagering game has features that correspond to the theme game wherein the results of the wagering game influence the results of the theme game as the wagering game is being played. The system also includes a controller for electronically linking the gaming machines and providing stimuli to the gaming machines so as to affect gaming machine outputs that are impartial and random. In one embodiment, the plurality of players play the wagering game as a group wherein if one player's theme game results meet predetermined criteria, that particular player will play for the group. The group will then have the opportunity to split a jackpot. In another embodiment, the plurality of players play as a group wherein activation of each player's wagering game either helps or hinders the group as a whole in its effort to achieve a predetermined goal. In a further embodiment, the players play their respective wagering game so as to directly compete against each other in the theme game. The results of the wagering games determines the winnings of each player, the eventual winner of the theme game and/or any predetermined jackpot.

2001/0046893 describes a game of chance involving a progression of events is conducted on one or more gaming machines. After receiving a wager from a player at a gaming machine, play of the game is initiated. To continue play of the game beginning from a point at which the game was paused, the personal identifier is provided to the central database via the same or another gaming machine and the game status associated with the personal identifier is retrieved from the central database.

2002/0132660 A1 shows a method for wagering on a gaming device where players purchase time on the device as opposed to an individual game where players are allowed to play as many individual games as possible to maximize their returns.

2003/0060255 describes a gaming device having a processor and a display device connected to the processor. The display device displays a plurality of choices to a player, whereby each choice has an associated number of points. The processor provides an initial number of picks to the player. The processor also maintains a regeneration amount, whereby the player receives a new number of picks if the points associated with the player's choices accumulate at least to the regeneration amount, within the provided number of picks. In one embodiment accumulating points includes accumulating awards. If the player accumulates a predetermined goal amount of points, the player also wins a goal award.

2003/0060277 teaches an apparatus and method for operating a gaming device that enables a player to obtain an award based upon the number of goals the player is able to achieve during game play. The goals advance in difficulty as the player achieves each goal. The game terminates automatically when the player fails to achieve a goal.

2003/0119578 shows a gaming machine and a method of operation such a gaming machine. Comprising a video screen adapted to display a game of chance involving game events having random outcomes including winning outcomes and losing outcomes; and means adapted to display a range of video clips, each video clip being designated as either a winning video clip or a losing video clip; wherein the machine displays one of the winning video clips in response to one of the winning outcomes of a game event, and displays one of the losing video clips in response to one of the losing outcome of a game event.

Despite these efforts, there is a need for new entertaining interactive gaming devices to maintain players interest level in wagering on gaming devices or machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a video gaming device and method for wagering on a virtual round of golf or golf game. The video gaming device comprises a game cabinet to support a video screen or display, a selector control panel and a wager/payment mechanism and to house a microprocessor.

The selector control panel comprises a plurality of selector control keys to generate game selections signals including play selections and wagering selections; while the wager/payment mechanism comprises a plurality of apertures to receive payment by the game player and means to generate a payment signal.

The microprocessor includes game data comprising a plurality of wager selections and a plurality of golf club selections. A data processing section including logic receives the game selection signals from the selector control keys and payment signals from the wage/payment mechanism and to generate display signals in response to the game selection signals and payment signals to be displayed on the video screen or display in response to operator input from the selector control keys and wage information in response to input from the wager/payment mechanism, and to generate play images on the video screen executed against the preprogrammed course plan and a preprogrammed situation profile and display the wagering results.

The plurality of club selections comprises a first and second set of club selections wherein the first set of club play selections comprises a plurality of selectable woods and the second set of club selections comprises a plurality of selectable irons.

As the virtual golf game progresses, the player selects wagers to be bet on each play against the predetermined game plan. The data processing section records the player's bank, wagers and calculates winnings/losses against predetermined odds. These amounts are displayed on the video screen or display along with the available club selections, selected plays and executed interactive play pitting the selected golf stroke and club play against the preprogrammed game situation profile.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts that will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the gaming device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the gaming device of the present invention showing a tee to green layout.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the gaming device of the present invention showing a second tee to green layout.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention relates to a video gaming device and method for wagering on a virtual round of golf or golf game. As shown in FIG. 1, the video gaming device generally indicated as 110 comprises a game cabinet generally indicated as 112 to operatively support or house a video touch screen or display generally indicated as 114, a selector control panel generally indicated as 116, an information or game status panel generally indicated as 118 and a payment/payout mechanism generally indicated as 120 and to house a microprocessor generally indicated as 122.

The video touch screen or display 114 may comprise a CRT; plasma screen or other device to visually display wagers, wagering results, player credit balance, game instructions, game status and individual payoffs or odds, golf stroke selections and executed strokes. The video touch screen or display 114 is coupled to the microprocessor 122 to transmit and receive signals therefrom to make selections and to create or generate the various visual displays.

The selector control panel 116 includes a plurality of selector control keys to selectively generate a corresponding plurality of game selections, wagering and display or viewing control signals fed to the microprocessor 122. The plurality of selector control keys comprises a plurality of control keys to control the game, a plurality of wagering keys to select the amount of wagers and a plurality of odds display keys to selectively display a corresponding plurality of situation odds key.

Specifically, the plurality of control keys comprises a start/enter key, a clear key and a cash out key indicated as 124, 126 and 128 respectively. The plurality of wagering keys comprises a BET 1× key, BET 2× key, BET 3× key, BET 4× key, BET 5× key, BET 6× key, BET 7× key, BET 8× key, BET 9× key, BET 10× key, BET 15× key, BET 20× key, BET 50× key, and a MAXBET key indicated as 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154 and 156 respectively. A pause key and a new game key 188 and 190 respectively to generate a pause signal and new game sign are disposed adjacent to the wager keys. A specific video gaming device 110 may be set for a $0.25, $0.50, $1.00 bet or other denomination such that the selected or actuated wagering key is the multiple of the set denomination shown on the wagering key. The plurality of odds or payoff display keys comprises a driving odds key, a greens hit odds key, a fairway odds key, a putting odds key, a chipping odds key and a scoring odds key indicated as 158, 160, 162,164,192 and 194 respectively.

The selector control panel 116 further comprising a plurality of club stroke selections including a swing key, a chip key, a putt key and a sand shot key 196,198,200 and 202 respectively to be selected with club selection situation.

A score card display generally indicated as 204 visually displays the individual holes with corresponding par and score by hole.

The wager/payment mechanism 120 comprises an insert tickets or bills receptacle 166, insert coin receptacles 168 and 170, a deposit display 172, an insert card slot 174 and a credit card key pad generally indicated as 176 and a cash return payout section including a coin return/payout receptacle 178 and a currency return payout slot 180.

The video gaming device 10 is connected to a power source by an electric cord 188.

The information or game status panel 118 comprises an instructions legend 182 and a wage status display 186. The game status display 184 and the wage status display 186 are coupled to the microprocessor 122 to receive display signals therefrom to display various game and wager data. The wager status display 186 can display the player's balance, amount wagered on current bet or play and golf strokes accumulated by the player.

The video touch screen or display 114, the selector control panel 116, the information or game status panel 118, the wager/payment mechanism 120 and the information or game status panel 118 are coupled to the microprocessor 122 and to state of the art mechanical and electrical mechanisms and devices to receive, record, calculate, account, payout and display the game transactions and plays.

The microprocessor 122 includes game data comprising a plurality of wager selections and a plurality of clubs and shot selections, a plurality of game control selections and a plurality of payment selections. A data processing section including logic to receive game control signals from the game control keys 124, 126 and 128, wage selection signals from the plurality of wagering keys 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154 and 156, situation odds displays from keys 158, 160, 162, 164, 192 and 194 payment signals from the payment/payout mechanism 120 and stroke selections from stroke selection keys 196, 198, 200 and 202 and to generate display signals in response to the club and stroke selection signals, odds viewing signals and the payment signals to be displayed on the video screen or display 114 in response to operator input from the selector control keys and wager information in response to input from the wager/payment mechanism, and to generate game play images on the video screen or display 114 of individual swing selection by player or golfer and club selection by microprocessor 122 executed against the predetermined situation profile and display the wagering results.

The programmed game situation profile comprises a plurality of club selections shown in Table 1 from which the microprocessor 122 selects. As depicted in FIG. 1, the player selects a stroke key 196, 198, 200 and/or 202 lite up determined by the situation such as par and distance to the hole. The programmed game situation profile then from a predetermined par sheet calculated by the predetermined or desired payout.

The plurality of wager selections correspond to the first of wagering keys 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154 and 156; while the plurality of stroke selection keys correspond to the stroke keys.

The microprocessor 122 contains several tables to control the game play and display certain information/data. In particular, Tables 1 and 2 show club selection and game odds or payoffs. TABLE 1 CLUB SELECTION sand wedge 110 yards 8 iron 160 yards 5 iron 190 yards 2 iron 220 yards driver 300+ yards pitching wedge 140 yards 7 iron 170 yards 4 iron 200 yards 5 wood 230+ yards 9 iron 150 yards 6 iron 180 yards 3 iron 210 yards 3 wood 250+ yards

TABLE 2 PAYOUT/ODDS par 3-1 birdie 25-1  eagle 100-1  double eagle 2500-1   hole in one 1000-1   fairway hit in regulation ball must travel at least 250 yards 3-1 green hit in regulation/from 150 yards 10-1  par after penalty shot 50-1  sandy 10-1  long putt/20-39 feet 10-1  break par 100-1  shoot 60-65 500-1  chip ball in hole 25-1  birdie after penalty shot 250-1  on a putt of 7 to 10 feet, putt must be within 6 inches 3-1 on a putt of 11 to 15 feet, putt must be within 1 foot 3-1 on a putt of 16 to 24 feet, putt must be within 2 feet 3-1 on a putt of 25 feet or more, putt must be within 3 feet 3-1 make putt of 6 feet and closer 3-1 hit ball within 12 feet from 126 to 149 yards 5-1 hit ball within 10 feet from 101 to 125 yards 5-1 chip ball within 6 feet from 50 to 100 yards 5-1 chip ball within 4 feet from trap 110-1  chip ball in hole from trap 50-1  300 yard+ drive in fairway 10-1  pitch ball within 4 feet of hole from 50 yards an in 5-1 hit green in 2 on par 5 50-1  make putt of 40 feet or more 20-1  on second shot on par 5 ball must be in fairway and within 10-1  100 yards of green

To establish a bank, the player inserts money, club or credit card into the payment/payout seen in FIG. 1. As previously described, the video gaming device 110 is preset to a specific denomination such as a quarter or dollar. Thus, touching the BET 1× key 130 would result in a $0.25 or $1.00 depending upon the preset or predetermined denomination. Next, the player depresses the Start/Enter key 124.

To begin play, the player places the bet or wager on the first play by selecting the appropriate wagering key BET 1× key 130 through MAXBET key 156.

As previously described, the club selections dependent to be determined by the microprocessor 122 on the hazards and distance to hole as shown in Table 1. The stroke is determined by the microprocessor 122 that illuminates the appropriate stroke key 196, 198, 200 or 202 on the video touch screen and display 114.

Once the player depresses the selected stroke key, the microprocessor 122 will execute the stroke against predetermined selected game profile or menu driven menu or random par sheet. The play is visually played out on the video touch screen or display 114. The play result or outcome is determined at random by the microprocessor 122 against a par sheet calculation by the predetermined or desired payout.

Display screens for the various situations are pulled-up or selected by depressing or engaging view odds key or view defensive odds key and desired play set by touching the corresponding indicator on the video touch screen or display 114. In addition, game odds and point odds may be viewed on the video touch screen or display 114 by touching view game odds key or view point odds respectively.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described, 

1. A video gaming device for wagering on a virtual round of golf or golf game comprising a video touch screen or display and a selector control panel including a plurality of selector control keys to selectively generate a plurality of golf stroke selections and a plurality of wage selections, and control signals including golf stroke selection signals and wagering selection signals, and a microprocessor including game data comprising a plurality of wager selections and a plurality of club selections corresponding to the golf stroke selection signals and wagering selection signals and a predetermined game situation profile; a data processing section including logic to receive the golf stroke selection signal and control signals from said plurality of selector control keys to generate display signals in response to the club selection and control signals to be displayed on the video screen or display in response to operator input from said plurality of selector control keys and to generate a golf game play image on the video screen or display to show the play of the golf ball relative to the tee, fairway, green and hole as the golf stroke executed against said predetermined golf game situation profile and display the wagering results.
 2. The video gaming device of claim 1 wherein said microprocessor selects a club from said plurality of club selections and illuminates the corresponding golf stroke selections from said plurality of golf stroke selections to be executed by the players.
 3. The video gaming device of claim 2 wherein the selection of the club of said plurality of club selections by said microprocessor is determined by the position of the golf ball relative to green and hole and hazards.
 4. The video gaming device of claim 3 wherein said predetermined golf game situation profile comprises a menu driven random selection process.
 5. The video gaming device of claim 2 wherein said predetermined golf game situation profile comprises a menu driven random selection process.
 6. The video gaming device and method of claim 5 wherein said selector control panel comprises a plurality of selector control keys to generate game selections signals including said golf stroke selections and wagering selections and wager/payment mechanism comprises a plurality of apertures to receive payment by the player and means to generate a payment signal.
 7. The video gaming device and method of claim 6 wherein said microprocessor includes game data comprising a plurality of wager selections and a plurality of play selections and a data processing section including logic receives the game selection signals from said selector control keys and payment signals from said wage/payment mechanism and to generate display signals in response to said game selection signals and payment signals to be displayed on said video screen in response to operator input from said selector control keys and wage information in response to input from said wager/payment mechanism, and to generate game play images on the video screen of individual selected play executed against the game plan of drives, strokes or putts and a game situation profile and display the wagering results.
 8. A video gaming device and method for wagering on a virtual round of golf comprising a game cabinet and base to operatively support a video screen and a selector control panel and a wager/payout mechanism and to house a microprocessor said selector control panel includes a plurality of selector control keys to selectively generate a corresponding plurality of game selections including play selection and wagering selection, wagering and display or viewing control signals fed to the microprocessor, said plurality of selector control keys comprises a plurality of game control keys to control the game including said play selection and plurality of wagering keys to select the amount of wagers including said wagering selection and a plurality of display keys to selectively display a corresponding plurality of menus or game information/data.
 9. The video gaming device and method of claim 8 wherein said plurality of game control keys comprises a start/enter key and a cash out key and said plurality of wagering keys comprises keys of different monetary denominations.
 10. The video gaming device and method of claim 9 wherein said plurality of display keys comprises a payoff or odds menu key, a money available/pending wager status key, a proposition wager menu key and a money wagered key.
 11. The video gaming device and method of claim 8 wherein said wager/payment mechanism comprises a currency receptacle, a coin receptacle, a credit card slot and a credit card key pad and a cash return payout.
 12. The video gaming device and method of claim 8 wherein said microprocessor includes game data comprising a plurality of wager selections and a plurality of stroke selections.
 13. The video gaming device and method of claim 8 further comprising a data processing section including logic to receive said game selection signals from said selector control keys and said payment signals from said wage/payment mechanism and to generate display signals in response to said game selection signals and said payment signals to be displayed on said video screen in response to operator input from said selector control keys and wages information in response to input from said wager/payment mechanism, and to generate game play images on said video screen of individual executed strokes against the lay and a menu driven random outcome.
 14. The video gaming device and method of claim 14 wherein said data processing section to receive, record, calculate, account and payout for the game transactions and plays.
 15. The video gaming device and method of claim 13 wherein said game situation profile comprises a plurality of sets of drives, strokes and putts wherein plays within each said set is programmed game situation profile selects a drive, stroke or putt said the plurality of preselected drives, strokes or putts to play against the selected stroke.
 16. The video gaming device and method of claim 15 wherein said data processing section records the player's bank or balance, wagers and calculates winnings/losses against the predetermined odds, displays amounts on said video screen along with the available stroke selections, selected and and executed strokes. 